After Big Brother, big bucks for Shilpa

LUCRATIVE ENDORSEMENTS, paid public appearances, Hollywood films, a biography… These are just some of the deals awaiting Shilpa Shetty following her win on Celebrity Big Brother.

The offers are already trickling in, with the Daily Mirror bidding £150,000 (Rs 1.2 crore) for the first interview after the reality show, surpassing The Sun’s £100,000 (Rs 80 lakh) bid.

Sources close to Shilpa, who declined to be named, said several other projects, including an ethnic minority awards night and Cricket Star — a cricketthemed reality show for which she may get £100,000 (Rs 80 lakh) — are being lined up. She may also release an album of Bollywood hits. “We have some offers, but we have to discuss them with Shilpa and her mother Sunanda,” Shilpa’s new agent Max Clifford said.

Shilpa, who was paid Rs 3 crore to appear on Celebrity Big Brother, will have advertisers lining up outside her door back home too, said industry sources. In fact, agents said, she is likely to be sought by advertisers across Asia and would command fees of several hundred thousand pounds.

In India, the choice of products she would endorse could range from designer apparel to jewellery and personal care products.

Nirvik Singh, chairman (South-East Asia) of Grey Global Group, said: “The opportunities could range from Shilpa becoming the face of an international cosmetic brand to financial institutions targeting Indians abroad.” Her income, said Singh, could be as high as Rs 4 crore per endorsement.

The Emami Group has shown an interest already. Emami director Aditya Agarwal told HT: “We may consider her for our hair dye, hair colour and shampoo brands.” Rs 75 lakh over two years is what Emami would be comfortable offering Shetty, he added.

Clifford had recently estimated that Shilpa could earn £1 million (Rs 8 crore) within a year from new contracts.

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1.2 Rs crore from the Daily Mirror for her first interview after the reality show victory.

80 Rs lakh for reality show Cricket Star.

She may also host an awards night, release an album of Bollywood hits and act in Hollywood films.